Best MORTAL fighter - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Failivrin · 03-29-2004, 03:03 PM

In no particular order:

Hurin
Turin
Elendil
Aragorn
Boromir

Eowyn is an interesting one. i'm not entirely sure whether i would calss her with those as a 'fighter' because what she did with the Witch King was more from sheer desperation than from valour. maybe i am wrong though, my thoughts on Eowyn are constantly evolving, so i'll put her in too

Kransha · 03-29-2004, 03:21 PM

Actually, therein lies a harder question.

One could weigh the 'best' mortal fighter scale ala, what was accomplished in the field of warriordom by said warrior. Just because tales or stories are told, naught can be taken for granted. Living, breathing (or rather dead, not breathing) evidence is required to confirm the calibur of every mighty man. As was said earlier, are we talking warriors or fighters. Think on it this way: Turin probably gets the prize, mainly because of his exploits and the obvious fact that he slew Glaurung. He might also constitute as the best warrior, because of strength of mind, but he was still corrupted by Glaurung's spell. Some, including, perhaps, myself, might believe that a less corruptable but still strengthy warrior such as the noble Theoden King, or Samwise Gamgee, eternal paladin of the Shire, would be more oriented towards real righteous warriordom.

Swordsman: Well, you've got Elendil and Isildur who less is known of in terms of prowess, Aragorn and Boromir, who's exploits have been carefully related, and Turin and Hurin, who bear those epic tales of incredible "slayage" to back them up. But what about heroism. Is this heroism or fighter's power? Fisticuffs or feelings? Though I would not dream of complicating the question, I believe I just did.

Gorwingel · 03-29-2004, 07:05 PM

This is a hard question because there is just so many ways we can go to answer this. We can go by pure numbers (Turin, Hurin, etc.) or we can go by bravery and doing what was needed to be done at the time. I have to admit that when answering a question like this, I don't really personally think that Frodo, Sam, or Eowyn would be the best answer. It is just that they were really not people who made their livings as fighters. They just fought because it was a situation of life or death, and the survival of the peoples of Middle-Earth.

So I would most definitely have to go with Hurin. Slaying 70 trolls is a pretty unmatchable feat.

03-29-2004, 10:19 PM

Do The Men from the paths of the dead count? surely one of them would surpass any other man. do they class as men though?

Just a thought

Voralphion · 03-30-2004, 06:45 PM

It is hard to say if those of the paths of the dead count as great warriors because I don't think they didn't do any real fighting. All fled before them and ran away, leaving all the real killing to Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and the ranges of the north. Legolas said, that he didn't know if the swords of the dead could still bite, (Not an exact quote). In the movie they fought, but in the books they didn't.
Frodo and Sam definately shouldn't be included in this category as they weren't really great fighters. They did do a great deed, one that shows they had great valour and courage, but not that they were good fighters.

Boromir88 · 03-31-2004, 01:57 PM

Yes, very true the dead army was just used as a "scare tactic," who just scared all the corsairs off their ships.

If my memory serves correct Aragorn not only with gimli, legolas, and the dunedain also used the 50 ships and gathered men from Lossarnach. That is why Forlong only sent 500 men at first to Minas Tirith because he thought the corsairs would attack Lossarnach so he left a lot of his force there.

Amrod the Hunter · 11-27-2004, 01:08 PM

Definetly Hurin who killed 70 trolls and a large amount of orcs before they captured him and his son,Turin,who was a great fighter,but he didn't have luck and in the end he went mad.

03-29-2004, 03:03 PM	#1
Failivrin Wight Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: England Posts: 201	In no particular order: Hurin Turin Elendil Aragorn Boromir Eowyn is an interesting one. i'm not entirely sure whether i would calss her with those as a 'fighter' because what she did with the Witch King was more from sheer desperation than from valour. maybe i am wrong though, my thoughts on Eowyn are constantly evolving, so i'll put her in too __________________ no one in particular

03-29-2004, 03:21 PM	#2
Kransha Ubiquitous Urulóki Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The port of Mars, where Famine, Sword, and Fire, leash'd in like hounds, crouch for employment Posts: 747	Actually, therein lies a harder question. One could weigh the 'best' mortal fighter scale ala, what was accomplished in the field of warriordom by said warrior. Just because tales or stories are told, naught can be taken for granted. Living, breathing (or rather dead, not breathing) evidence is required to confirm the calibur of every mighty man. As was said earlier, are we talking warriors or fighters. Think on it this way: Turin probably gets the prize, mainly because of his exploits and the obvious fact that he slew Glaurung. He might also constitute as the best warrior, because of strength of mind, but he was still corrupted by Glaurung's spell. Some, including, perhaps, myself, might believe that a less corruptable but still strengthy warrior such as the noble Theoden King, or Samwise Gamgee, eternal paladin of the Shire, would be more oriented towards real righteous warriordom. Swordsman: Well, you've got Elendil and Isildur who less is known of in terms of prowess, Aragorn and Boromir, who's exploits have been carefully related, and Turin and Hurin, who bear those epic tales of incredible "slayage" to back them up. But what about heroism. Is this heroism or fighter's power? Fisticuffs or feelings? Though I would not dream of complicating the question, I believe I just did. __________________ "What mortal feels not awe/Nor trembles at our name, Hearing our fate-appointed power sublime/Fixed by the eternal law. For old our office, and our fame," -Aeschylus, Song of the Furies

03-29-2004, 07:05 PM	#3
Gorwingel Beholder of the Mists Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Somewhere in the Northwest... for now Posts: 1,419	This is a hard question because there is just so many ways we can go to answer this. We can go by pure numbers (Turin, Hurin, etc.) or we can go by bravery and doing what was needed to be done at the time. I have to admit that when answering a question like this, I don't really personally think that Frodo, Sam, or Eowyn would be the best answer. It is just that they were really not people who made their livings as fighters. They just fought because it was a situation of life or death, and the survival of the peoples of Middle-Earth. So I would most definitely have to go with Hurin. Slaying 70 trolls is a pretty unmatchable feat. __________________ Wanted - Wonderfully witty quote that consists of pure brilliance

03-30-2004, 06:45 PM	#5
Voralphion Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sharkey's End Posts: 267	It is hard to say if those of the paths of the dead count as great warriors because I don't think they didn't do any real fighting. All fled before them and ran away, leaving all the real killing to Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and the ranges of the north. Legolas said, that he didn't know if the swords of the dead could still bite, (Not an exact quote). In the movie they fought, but in the books they didn't. Frodo and Sam definately shouldn't be included in this category as they weren't really great fighters. They did do a great deed, one that shows they had great valour and courage, but not that they were good fighters. __________________ His sword was long his lance was keen His shining helm afar was seen The countless stars of heavens field Were mirrored in his silver shield

03-31-2004, 01:57 PM	#6
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,521	Voralphion Yes, very true the dead army was just used as a "scare tactic," who just scared all the corsairs off their ships. If my memory serves correct Aragorn not only with gimli, legolas, and the dunedain also used the 50 ships and gathered men from Lossarnach. That is why Forlong only sent 500 men at first to Minas Tirith because he thought the corsairs would attack Lossarnach so he left a lot of his force there.

03-29-2004, 10:19 PM	#4
Paulus Of The Shire Guest Posts: n/a	Do The Men from the paths of the dead count? surely one of them would surpass any other man. do they class as men though? Just a thought

11-27-2004, 01:08 PM	#7
Amrod the Hunter Haunting Spirit Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Dol Amroth Posts: 54	Definetly Hurin who killed 70 trolls and a large amount of orcs before they captured him and his son,Turin,who was a great fighter,but he didn't have luck and in the end he went mad.